Valve mechanism for blowing-engines.



B. v. NORDBERG. VALVE MECHANISM FOR BLOWING ENGINES.

APPLIUATION FILED 1130.21, 1906.

Patented July 6, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRUNO V. NORDBERG, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR BLOWING-ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BnUNo V. Nonnnnne, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Milthe following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to an improved valve mechanism for blowing engines, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a blowing engine fitted with the improved valve mechanism; Fig. 2 a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 a erspective view of a portion of two of the va ves and their cooperating arts; and Fig. 4 a detail view of the box or rousing into which the valve-rods extend.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient valve mechanism, in which a large valve area may be obtained, the construction being particularly applicable to blowing engines working against low pressures, such for instance as those used in connection with copper furnaces. In the use of such furnaces it is necessary that the air be compressed to a pressure varying from 30 to 50 oz. to the square inch.

It is evident that unless the intake and discharge valves afford a free passage for the air, the losses due to the suction and dis charge pressure, occasioned by the passage of the air through the valves or valve-ports, may amount to a large ercentage of the total pressure against w iich the machine works, thereby resulting in a reduction of its efficiency. Such ressure losses are of much less importance w ere the air is compressed to a relatively high degree. For instance, if it be compressed to 30 oz. every extra ounce of pressure per square inch of the piston 00- casioned by the passage of the air through the valves would increase the work of compression one-thirtieth, or as much as one pound of loss would produce if the air were compressed to 30 lbs. pressure. It is evident that this condition requires, for low ressures, a very large valve area. Large va ves of ordinary type are heavy and their operation consumes a considerable portion of the engine power. The valves which I have devised and as hereinafter set forth afford a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 21, 1906.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Serial No. 348,936.

large valve area and are readily. manipulated at a minimum expenditure of power.

In the drawings, A denotes the cylinder of the compressor; B the piston working therein; and C the discharge chamber or trunk which extends around the cylinder and is common to all of the discharge ports D and D, formed or provided at each end of the chamber or trunk. Said ports D and D open, respectively, into chambers E and E, and a series of induction ports F and F likewise respectively opens into said chambers which are in direct communication with the opposite ends of the cylinder.

As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 2, a large number of ports is provided; in fact, a valve area equal to at least one-half of the total piston area is obtained. This applies to both the inductionand eduction or discharge valves at both ends of the cylinder.

To close and open the ports, induction valves G and G, and eduction or discharge valves H and H are employed, the valves being alike in form. Each valve comprises a flat ring-shaped or annular member or plate provided with ports I corresponding in size and number to the induction or discharge ports as the case may be. As will be seen upon reference to the drawings, the valves are suspended in a vertical osition out of contact with any portion of the compressor except where they bear lightly against the vertically-disposed valve faces.

Each valve is provided with diametricallydisposed outwardly-extending ears J, and lin (s or rods K and. L are pivotally connected thereto by pins M. The upper ends of the rods are likewise connected to a walkingbeam, the beams for the induction valves being designated by N, N, and those for the eduction valves by O, O. Beams N, O are fulcrumed upon a fixed bracket P, while beams N, O are pivoted. upon a similar support P The rods K and L pass through packing glands Q, mounted upon the upper side of an extension or boxR, formed at the side of the compressor, the glands being so mounted that they may shift laterally with the slight sidewise movement of the rods as the same are raised-and lowered by the beam.

Rocking motion is imparted to the beams N and 0 through rods S and T, which are actuated by suitable eccentrics or wristplates S and T, the parts being so adjusted as to preferably impart to the valves a quick opening and closing movement, the valves remaining at rest, or substantially so, when they are closed. This arrangement will produce the largest port openin with the smallest motion of the valve. It will, of course, be understood that suitable actuating rods will. be employed in conjunction with the beams N and O.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the valves are suspended bythe rods K and L from the centrally-falcrumed walking-beam, and any movement of said beam about its pivot will cause a correspond ing rota-tion of the valve about a center coin cident with the center of the cylinder.

The valves being suspended in space, there is no friction to overcome, except that upon the pin connections which, as will be seen, are easy of access and may be readily lubricated.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, when the piston begins its movement from the righthand end of the cylinder toward. the left-hand end thereof the valves G, H and H will be closed and the induction valve G wide open. As the piston moves a short distance toward the left, or in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, beam O-is rocked and valve H opened, permitting the slightly compressed air to pass into the chamber or trunk C. Upon a reverse movement of the piston, valves H and G are closed and valve G opened, valve H remaining closed until the piston has moved a slight distance toward the right,withinthe cylinder, at which time the valve-gear opens said valve and permits the compressed air to pass into the chamber or trunk C.

The valves, by reason of their suspension, do not wear against their seats and by proper timing of the parts they are opened and closed when the pressure is substantially the same upon both faces of the valves so that they are not forced against their seats when being shifted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimis:

1. In combination with a horizontally-disposed cylinder having a series of ports around its end; an annular vertically-disposed valve, provided with ports extending therethrough in substantial parallelism with the axis of the valve, adapted to close or open the ports about the cylinder; means for freely suspending said valve in space from oppositely disposed points; and means for rocking said suspending means and thereby oscillating the valve.

2. In combination with a cylinder having a series of ports therefor provided with sub stantially vertically-disposed seats; an annular valve arranged adjacent to the seats; and suspending and actuating means attached to the diametrically-opposite sides of the valve whereby it will be held out of contact with the cylinder and its allied parts and. be free to be rocked to open and close the ports, sub

center of said valve being coincident with that of the cylinder; a sus )ending device connectcd. to the diametricafly-opposite sides of the valve and holding the same in space; and means for rocking said suspending device, and thereby opening and closing the ports.

I. In combination with a horizontally-disposed cylinder opening into a chamber arranged at each end thereof; a series of annularly-disposed ports opening into each of said chambers; a second series of annularly-disposed ports extending from each of said chambers into an induction trunk; a ported ring-shaped valve for each series of ports, the

center of each valve and that of the ports being coincident; means for suspending said valves in space adjacent to the ports; and means for rocking the valves to open and close the ports.

5. In combination with a horizontally-disposed cylinder; a piston; a chamber arranged at each end of the cylinder and with which it is in communication at all times; a series of annularly-disposed induction ports for each chamber, the center of each series being coincident with that of the cylinder; a series of annularly-disposed eduction ports for each of said chambers; an annular ported valve for each of said series of ports, the center of each of said valves being likewise coincident with that of the cylinder; a series of walkingbeams, one for each valve; suspending connections between each valve and its beam; and means for rocking the beams and thereby rotating the valves.

6. In combinationwith a cylinder; a piston working therein; a chamber arranged at each end of the cylinder and with which the cylinder is in free communication; a series of annularly-disposed induction and eduction ports for said chambers, the ports being arranged upon a radius greater than that of the cylinder; a ported annular valve for each series of ports, the centers of the valves and the center point about which the ports are disposed standing in alinement; a walking beam for each valve; links or rods connecting the diametrically-opposite sides of each of the valves to its walking-beam; and means for rocking the beams.

7. In combination with a horizontally-disposed cylinder; a piston therein; a chamber arranged at each end of the cylinder and with which the cylinder is in communication at all times; a series of annularly-disposcd induction and eduction ports opening into each of said chambers, the center of each series being coincident with that of the cylinder; a ported annular valve for each series of ports, the center of said valves being likewise in line with that of the cylinder; a walking-beam for each of the valves, the pivotal support of said beam being in vertical alinement with the center of the cylinder; rods pivotally connected to each valve at diametrically-disposed points, said rods being also pivotally connected to the walking-beams; and means for rocking the beams.

8. In combination with a chamber having a series 01 ports arranged in a circular series, with a vertically-disposed valve-seat; a ported annular valve; means for suspending said valve adjacent to its seat and free from contact with any other part of the structure; and means for reciprocating the valve about its center.

9. In combination with a chamber having a vertical face or valve-seat provided with a concentric series of ports; a valve-plate placed facewise to the valve-seat and having a corresponding series of ports; devices for suspendlng said valve-plate in axial coincidence with the valve-seat, applied at diametrically opposite points on the valve-plate,

such that no other radial bearing against the valve-plate is required for its su port; and means for oscillating the valve-p ate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BRUNO V. NORDBERG.

Witnesses:

CHAS. R. Connns, E. (l. BAYERLEIN. 

